Virgin Atlantic strike
 

It is reported on the BBC that Virgin Atlantic pilots are to strike from Dec 22 to Christmas Day:
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-46487672

1700 views. Not one comment. Storm in a tea cup or are VA pilots sworn to secrecy under threat ?

Gordomac,

It's because there's nothing to see.

The PPU represent a third of the pilots. 72% turned out, 71% voted for IA. That's a grand total of 17% of the pilots who voted for IA - some of whom might yet go to work anyway. That's why Virgin have said there will be no disruption.

The PPU have been holding industrial action for around 2 years now. No one has really noticed. They really got it wrong when they insisted on being the sole negotiating union, when two unions were present. No union has ever tried to oust the other union before, and it's totally against the principles of the union movement. Be this a lesson in how not to do things!

Here come the pro balpa gorillas

Every year I see another airline circumvent a stubborn union and startup a new AOC with contract pilots... that's WITH a trained pilot shortage!!
I'm sure we can ride out this madness brought on by PPU.

Don't knock the principle of unions... they've done far more for aircrew T&C's than has having no union and / or no organised collective clout.

This was all about union recognition and nothing to do with negotiations regarding benefits. The ASOS which has been going for 2 years brought nothing, so they've now pressed the big red button far too early. All it has brought is bad press... for nothing as I'm fairly certain all the flights will be covered by non PPU members on standby and Management. I'm not a staunch BALPA table thumper, just sick of the whole self inflicted mess.

Perhaps the PPU just wanted some unpaid Christmas holiday...now where can I get a good Brexit debate...

The "other one" was never really out of the driving seat, though was it?
It has remained the recognised union throughout, regardless of the membership numbers of either union; meanwhile the PPU has always been unable to apply to the Central Arbitration Committee for Statutory Recognition, due to the fact that there is already a collective agreement in force.
Let's see what happens over the next few days.

" I'm fairly certain all the flights will be covered by non PPU members"

You're dead right, we can see from the high court transcripts in which the judge ruled in Virgin's favour on a technicality, Virgin wet leased aircraft at £250k per day in order to break any strike. That would have been illegal.

If BALPA members aren't concerned about how that precedent would emasculate them in the future then they should be.

Well, do you know what the technicality was?

The judge agreed with Virgin that the union should not only have given the numbers entitled to be balloted but also the breakdown of skippers and first officers.

I don't suppose even BALPA would have seen that one coming.

Dogma..... good name for you.

​​​​​​"Grab an ore and start paddling" , I'll grab that piece of rock!

I amazed that you're so hung up on being clever that you can't see the insidiousness of the threat of wet leasing to counter any strike action even DOGMA members might make in the future!

(sorry, I mean BALPA members)

Since when has strike busting wet leasing been illegal?

From the Gov.uk website;

"Agency staff

You can’t hire agency staff to provide temporary work cover during a strike."

Interesting. Has subbing out or wet leasing to cover industrial action in an airline ever been defined in court as using agency staff? I don't think it has, but I could be wrong.